2006 China Tour Omega Championship - Round 4: Liang takes the trophy, but hands back the cash

Liang Wenchong dispelled any doubt about the quantum leap forward he has made during the best year of his career by cruising to an emphatic victory in the Omega Championship at Beijing's Tianan Golf Course.

Liang, who has had four top-five finishes on the Japan Golf Tour in 2006, fired a four-under-par 68, to finish on 273 and 15-under for the tournament. He beat Li Chao by a masterful 12 shots and then asked to give back his RMB150,000 (US$19,000) prize money.

"I want to donate my cheque back to the Omega China Tour. It's the least I can do," Liang declared.

"I want to offer to help. Maybe we could set a foundation or a system to assist talented young players to go abroad and play and to experience the high standard of events like I have done. I am the one who actually received a lot of assistance from all the people who supported me and helped me. I feel this is the right time for me to at least to do something for the rest of China's players and hopefully this will help those players who need the financial aid to get out there and play."

Meanwhile his friend and mentor Zhang Lianwei made sure of being crowned Omega Order of Merit winner by claiming the third place he needed to make Li Chao's performance academic on the final day. Zhang, who like Li has two victories on the tour this year, scored a three-under-par 69 to maintain his amazing run of consistency. He's finished in the top three in all six events this year.

"I always play a good final round, but even though I got my putter back, there was no way of getting anywhere near 'Ah Chong'," Zhang said, using the Mandarin diminutive for Liang's name.

"I was just thinking of getting into the top three to keep my record for the six legs. I've won two titles, but that's still not good enough. I hope I can win more trophies. I didn't start thinking about the Order of Merit until I won for the second time in the Shanghai Leg. I thought then what a great honour it would be for me to get that title."

Li's performance was no less impressive than his triumph in last month's Kunming Leg. His three-over-par round left him three-under for the tournament, but he still finished six shots clear of the rest of the field, but this time he had the vastly improved Liang to contend with.

"It's really hard to chase a great player like Liang," the 28-year-old admitted.
"From the very first hole I just didn't make the birdie putts. I knew it wasn't going to be my day. To finish second is still a great experience, because I have been able to play with 'Ah Chong' for two rounds. I've learned a lot through those 36 holes. I think I missed a lot of putts because I realised I couldn't catch him and I think because of that I played poorly."

2006 Omega China Tour - Omega Championship

Leading Final Round scores - (Par 72)

273 – Liang Wenchong 70-68-67-68

285 – Li Chao 72-72-66-75

291 – Zhang Lianwei 78-70-74-69

295 – Liao Guiming 72-74-75-74

297 – Zheng Wengen 81-69-72-75

298 – Liu Anda 75-72-76-75

299 – Deng Yonghong 74-72-77-76, Shang Lei 76-73-79, Shi Ningjie 74-73-72-80

301 – Richard Qiu Zhifeng 73-77-74-77

302 – Tony Tan Yongzong 73-76-78-75, Wu Hongfu 80-71-77-74

303 – Xiao Zhijin 77-74-81-71, Yuan Hao 78-73-74